Ice picks: Monday's best NHL bets

Minnesota's season is slipping away and so are the club's top defenders. Both goalies are less then 100 percent and four of the Wild’s top six defenseman are ailing according to the St. Paul Pioneer Express.

And of course bettors haven’t forgotten Mikko Koivu, the team’s best offensive player, is sidelined with an arm injury. Head coach Todd Richards gave his players the day off on Saturday to let them lick their wounds.

The Kings are trying to rekindle the success they enjoyed at the start of the campaign but it’s proving to be a difficult task. Los Angeles is 2-5 in its last seven games and has just two goals in its last two outings.

Head coach Terry Murray is trying his best to fight the offensive slump by reuniting his former top line of Ryan Smyth, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams.

The trio played together on Saturday against the Stars but registered just one marker (and that was on the power play).

"This was a premier line in the league at the start of the year,” Murray told the Los Angeles Times after Saturday’s 4-1 setback to the Stars. “Unfortunately [injuries] happen, but that's the way it goes in hockey. Now it's time to elevate games.”

The Preds are playing some stingy hockey right now. They've allowed just one power play goal in their last 14 shorthanded situations and the under is 5-1 in their last six games.

Goalie Pekka Rinne is the chief reason for the defensive surge in Nashville. He’s starting nine straight games and the Preds won seven of the contests. The under is also 7-2 during Rinne’s hot run.

"He's moving really well and there's a confidence about him now," Nashville coach Barry Trotz told the Tennessean. "He is seeing the puck and tracking it. He has a rhythm going and has obviously been putting up the stats to back that up. It's good. You always want to get someone going the way he is."

Florida doesn’t have many offensive weapons to throw at the Predators.

Pick: Under

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I got Buff +1.5 at 1.40 so for every 100 you bet you win 40. My plays don't play too much but I go for high percentage plays. When you can get a good dog getting 1.5 at a decent price I feel its a solid buy. BOLA

My bad dog actually it was 4-1 yesterday in the NBA wishful thinking on my part but maybe if I had added another winner in there I coulda cushioned that piss-poor performance u displayed for us on the ice. Don't pretend u don't know where to find my NBA winners boy I know ya stupid and all but even u can click on the internet unfortunately. All I want u to take seriously is bringing in my 3 winners on the ice tonight I'll take care of the rest of my plays. I give u my hockey picks daily because that is your expertise I guess or what do u win at basketball, MLB, dogracing or who cares ya just better bring me some winners tonight thats all I'm sayin' - Now u know what to do go get 'em son!

StevenGA, 5-1 with your NBA picks yesterday??? That is extraordinary, or even better. Anyone that can go 5-1 with 3 picks must be doing something right. Crawl back in your hole you stiff. Nobody here takes you seriously.

dogstalker32 - Damn what happened to u yesterday son?? Is it true u are Colton Harris... Then I can understand u didn't have much time to work on the shots I called for u to take as we do it and that would explain your occasional absence here and there plus u kinda look like him. Or maybe my suspicion is right on that your internet service gets canceled each month til u get the govt. check. Just wondering why we don't see ya every day is all. I couldn't even bail ya out with my NBA prowess with a strong 5-1 but, that could have something to do with me being worse in college hoops than u are on the ice. I expect u to bounce back and at least bring us a winning night like u have so many times in the past after a dreadful afternoon, besides wouldn't u like more of those pats on the head when we're knocking down the winners and maybe even a Scooby snack once u show me u can win again its all there waiting for u dog, all ya gotta do is get back to winning another 9-0 streak would be nice ----------> ATL -125 & UNDER 6=====+=====
NASH/FLA UNDER 5.5 ---------- Now go bang 'em in for me boy george!!

I agree that many of these so-called GOOD teams have not playing up to their potential recently, and I am one of those idiots who has fallen a victim because of it. Yesterday I lost all three bets for minus 3.7 units, making this last week my WORST of the year BY FAR with a loss last week of a whopping 15.95 units. My year to date is now down minus 21.65 units. I should just stop and wait for the playoffs. Not sure if I will shut it down or not, but I agree with Covers on the Kings and I liked that one yesterday when I saw today's schedule. And even though Anaheim and Dallas are most likely going to miss the playoffs, I like Anaheim to win at home tonight. Good luck to those who are wagering.

It`s called olympic hangover...If you are up to snuff with hockey in general most experts said some of these guys just mite hit a wall...The hawks hade alot of players who played in the games in van city...These experts said they want to see what kind of inpact this is going to have on these teams that are playing in the post season...also last time they played in the olympics they hade 7 days off...This time some teams where playing the next night....I think the hawks have hit that wall...hmmm

I don't think there is lots of pressure on the Blackhawks to win. Chicago is not a big "Hockeytown" so they are not always in the media, unlike Vancouver where the media and fans are on the Canucks case hard when they lose. There was a riot in Vancouver one time when they lost in the Stanley cup finals!

I would agree with the both of you, however i would tend to lean a little more on the side of TSB... yes a lot of the higher ranked teams let off for a little stretch before the playoffs... but a blowout to columbus and then another pl loss to columbus in one week is not letting off, in chicago's instance i would hold it to their lack of leadership, i mean besides cambell, who is decent but is no leader , who else do you have thats over 25 on that team.? I think that skill wise chicago is one of the best teams in the lead, but right now they lack leadership/direction i think that chicago will move past round one, but dont look for them to clean up in the playoffs (also, huet is a decent goalie but can be hit or miss at times, something you need to stay away from in playoffs... *ahem...washington*) .............. I think that with a team like say vancouver they are more along the lines of the slacking right before playoffs (lots of hype out in van city after the olympics to, tons of media buzz and what not even after wards so dont hold it against them that they are sliding a tad at home right now) van's downfall is just pure crumbling when they get to the playoffs, same thing happens every year, they dominate during the season and then loose first second round of playoffs... I would watch for detroit (if those old boys can hold up to playoff level physicality) or san jose (if they can get out of this slump, which it looks like they are) in the west and in the east I would honestly give it to pit (i cant see ovy and his choke artist team winning it all) although if pit see's nj i think you can consider them done for (i would much rather see nj move on) i think that when it comes to the finals, give it to who ever is from the west, in my opinion they are far supirior confrence... hope this helps some... BOL........ PS if you're looking for a good value pick take a look at phx too (they made some pretty solid trades, quietly showing they are not a team to mess with in the west)

I think there's much more too it than that. Van is within striking distance, they are 2 wins 6 losses last 8 games, and in their remaining 8 games, 5 are on the road, starting with next 3 in a row on road. Back to back losses to Columbus, 8-3 away and 4-2 @ home can't be dismissed as unmotivated. Obviously, that is just my opinion. If it is motivation,then maybe they just have the wrong motivator to lead them...TSB..

Right now all the good teams that are locked in the playoffs are just going through the motions and the underdogs are winning at a high rate. Especialy teams on the bubble for the playoffs. I expect Blackhawks to go deep in the playoffs this year because they are very talented.

-.5u/sunday...+2.1u/season...No plays for monday..It was not a play for me, but that Chicago loss sunday night is a tell tale sign that all is not well with the Hawks. Any input/info would be greatly appreciated....bol...TSB..

"It`s called olympic hangover...If you are up to snuff with hockey in general most experts said some of these guys just mite hit a wall...The hawks hade alot of players who played in the games in van city...These experts said they want to see what ki..."

What you see is what you get each year from Pittsburgh, which builds through the draft, doesn’t sign a lot of free agents and basically comes at you. How much Ben Roethlisberger has left is a question asked every September given the number of hits he takes. The biggest change will be at defensive coordinator, where legend Dick Lebeau is gone – which may mean the LBs will be freer to attack the pocket.

The Vikes have Adrian Peterson back and things seem to have calmed down a bit in Minnesota. But then again, Mike Wallace has been on board for only a few months. Vikes are looking for a huge Year 2 improvement from Teddy Bridgewater and if they get it they can make things sticky in the North.

In 2014/15 the Steelers were 1-3 SU/ATS in the preseason and in 2013/14 they were 0-4 SU/ATS. After missing the playoffs in 2013/14, Pittsburgh returned last year only to lose 30-17 to the Ravens in the Wildcard round. Mike Tomlin has clearly not been very worried about winning in the preseason the last few years.

Last year the Vikes went 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the preseason, after going 1-3 SU/ATS in 2013/14 and 1-3 SU/ATS in 2012/13. For a team which is desperately trying to get back to the playoffs, the preseason suddenly becomes a lot more important.

There are many players on Minnesota which have something to prove, while Pittsburgh will surely be happy to just go through the motions and leave Canton without any significant injuries.

Minnesota would seem to be the more motivated team in this one, consider laying the short points.

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